The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two world wars and the Irish Republic's withdrawal from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999. The latter was suspended until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace process, but devolution was fully completed in March 2010.
The UK was an active member of the EU from 1973 to 2016, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. However, frustrated by a remote bureaucracy in Brussels and massive migration into the country, UK citizens on 23 June 2016 narrowly voted to leave the EU. The so-called “Brexit” will take years to carry out but could be the signal for referenda in other EU countries where skepticism of EU membership benefits is strong.
Members:
Resources
Displaying 151 - 155 of 782Valuation Tribunal for Wales Regulations 2010 (W.S.I. No. 713 (W. 69) of 2010).
These Regulations create a single valuation tribunal for Wales, which replaces four tribunals and the valuation tribunal service for Wales. The tribunal will deal with appeals made under the statutory provisions as defined in regulation 3.
Groundwater Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 (S.R. 401 of 1998).
The Regulations require the Department of the Environment to use its new powers under the Regulations and its existing powers under the Water Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 to prevent the direct or indirect discharge of list I substances to groundwater and to control pollution resulting from the direct or indirect discharge of list II substances (regs. 4 to 14).
Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 (2005 asp 15).
This Act defines the requirement to carry out environmental impact assessment of qualifying plan or programmes and implements in part Directive 2001/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment.
Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 (2013 Chapter 10).
This Act establishes a strategic system of marine planning in Northern Ireland’s inshore region (as defined), provides in part for a modernised licensing and enforcement regime and promotes the United Kingdom’s aim of establishing an “ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas”, so that marine biodiversity is protected and international and European commitments are met.
Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 (2010 asp 5).
This Act creates a new legislative and management framework for the marine environment in Scotland. It, among other things: establishes a new system of marine planning to take into account marine environment protection and management matters, creates a system of licensing of marine activities and defines powers to establish marine protected areas to protect natural and cultural marine features. The Act also introduces a new regime for the conservation of seals and gives powers to Scottish marine enforcement officers to ensure compliance with the new licensing and conservation regime.